Lebanon’s president has expressed hope that direct talks in Washington with Israel will lead to an end to his country’s suffering, after war erupted again between Israel and Hezbollah last month, AFP reports.

“I hope that the meeting in Washington… will mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular,” President Joseph Aoun has said in a statement, adding that “stability will not return to the south if Israel continues to occupy its lands”.

“The only solution lies in the Lebanese army re-deploying up to the internationally recognised border, and so being solely responsible for the security of the area and the safety of its residents, without the partnership of any other party,” Aoun adds.